Description

In a career that spanned over 30 years, Maggie Wilderotter served as CEO of two publicly traded companies and served on 32 corporate and nine association and non-profit boards of directors. As CEO of Frontier Communications, a U.S. telecom company with over $25 billion in assets, Wilderotter executed three major acquisitions, transforming the company's business mix and more than doubling its size. This case explores Wilderotter's career, examining the personal characteristics that made her such a successful executive and board member. The case also looks at the turning points in Wilderotter's career; the decisions she made and the way in which she built her skills.

Learning objective:

The case examines executive Maggie Wilderotter's 30+ year career, looking at the major turning points in that career and at the ways in which she developed her skills. The case details Wilderotter's career progression and the professional challenges she has taken on. Students can consider how she has approached risk in building her career. Is Wilderotter as a risk-taker or as risk-avoidant in her career? Why? Based on the information in the case, students should ask themselves: What are Wilderotter's strengths? What are her weaknesses and how did she compensate for them? The case looks at many aspects of Wilderotter's life. Students are encouraged to ask: how does she define success for herself? What is important to her? What is not a priority? Finally, students will examine Wilderotter's board service, looking at the the broad range of boards she has served on and consider what makes Wilderotter such a valuable board member.